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An Open Letter to Maryland Arborist Association Members
Season’s Greetings, folks.
As my term of office winds down between now and June 30, 2008, there are several
items of interest to the General Membership of the MAA:
1. Winter Seminar-our largest and most well-attended meeting;
2. 2008 Arborist Day -April 5, 2008 - membership’s opportunity to work
collectively on a project, donating time and effort for beautification of a
selected site;
3. Proposed legislation to positively affect the Tree Expert Law in the state of
Maryland.
The first two items are listed elsewhere in this newsletter. The third will be
discussed in this forum.
In September, a meeting was held by five current MAA Board Members (and me) to
discuss how to make changes in the existing Tree Expert Law that would
strengthen the title “Licensed Tree Expert.” It is opinion of this group that
adding yearly recertification of LTE’s would mirror recertification of Certified
Pesticide Applicators. This addition to the Tree Expert Law would, in our
opinion, verify one’s ability to perform arboricultural services to their peers
and to the public we serve. A second meeting was held on November 12th, inviting
representatives of the Tree Care Industry of America (TCIA) and the Mid-Atlantic
Conference, International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA) to voice their
opinions. It was decided at the second meeting to push for yearly
recertification through the legislative process in the upcoming Maryland General
Assembly. The Board of Directors of the MAA view this change to the existing
Tree Expert Law in the sense that Recertification for the Tree Expert’s License
would mirror what the Maryland Department of Agriculture requires for
certification for a Certified Pesticide Applicator’s License, i.e., an annual
meeting with new information on law changes, pest changes or pesticide changes.
The annual meeting could be an approved meeting by the Maryland Department of
Natural Resources (DNR), could be an in-house company meeting, or one that is
sponsored by the University of Maryland, or the MAA, for example. The Board of
Directors recently discussed the outcomes of these meetings and wholeheartedly
endorses these changes.
This information is included in this newsletter so that you, the dues-paying
members of this organization, can voice your opinion in regards to this proposed
change. By strengthening the title of Licensed Tree Expert in the state of
Maryland, it helps your business, helps the MAA and has a positive effect on
those folks we serve- the general public.
Please send your comments to the Maryland Arborist Association office at 410
321-8082 by phone, or send written comments to the MAA office at P.O. Box 712,
Brooklandville, MD 21022.
Thanks for your time and enjoy your holidays!
Damian Varga
President
Maryland Arborist Association
Change in Tree Expert Law Now Effective
Marylanders in need of tree care should be aware that the
change in the law governing
tree experts became effective October 1, 2005.
The new law states that anyone performing tree care or removal for hire must be
licensed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The new law is
designed to protect consumers from persons performing tree care or removal who
are not licensed or insured. To read more or get tips on how choose a licensed
tree care expert, click
here.
October 6, 2005
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the
state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related
services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public
lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries
and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A
national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic
and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead
agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number
one environmental priority. Learn more at
www.dnr.maryland.gov
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